First time in Portugal

Raul

Raul

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After travelling trough the south of Spain, then spent few days with gus-lopez and his better half, (thank you Richard for having us), then we headed for the Algarve. We arrived in Tavira, and both campsites full at 3pm. Managed to find a space by the overspill roundabout. Not sure if we can spend the night here. We’ll see.
If anyone can chip in with suggestions for places to stay, we greatly appreciate it.

Forgot to say, we have registered the van with a card for easy tolls, a day before.
 
If you go to Santa luzia, there is often parking at the end of the promenade,(the tri angle)
The "barrill" end that is ,see google maps.
If that does not work out you can pay to park overnight in the carpark for barril beach,
Which means that at this time of the day, you have a guaranteed parking place!


No facilities there but its an easy run to the Aires in tavira ,to pay for toilet, water etc.
You are legally parked at barrill, and usually no hassel in santa luzia.
Good luck
Only 3 km to santa luzia.
From the Aires in tavira go over the road bridge, then it's an a
Easy run to santa luzia, take the bridge!! the drive through the town is crap!
At the end of the bridge be in the Left lane, then it's a straight run up the hill past the police station.
 
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Raul said:
After travelling trough the south of Spain, then spent few days with gus-lopez and his better half, (thank you Richard for having us), then we headed for the Algarve. We arrived in Tavira, and both campsites full at 3pm. Managed to find a space by the overspill roundabout. Not sure if we can spend the night here. We’ll see.
If anyone can chip in with suggestions for places to stay, we greatly appreciate it.
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Similar experience last year and before that. We now tend to stay at Pria de Luz at the western end of the Algarve. It is an Orbitur campsite but not organised into pitches. Our favourite is Camping Milfontes at Vila Nova de Milfontes on the Atlantic coast. We will get there by Friday after Ericeira. We are at Foz do Araiho south of Nazare and it is quite busy already.
 
Moved on from Tavira, today we got a bit of rain. Checked two campsites in Faro, full, moved to Silves, all tree campsites full. Apparently you are allowed up to 48hrs to park the motorhome where you find. Hence the place last night was quite few stayed overnight, including us. Spoke to couple of Germans, they are in the same situation. As long as you move on 24hr, nobody bothers you. Found a place in the hills, Dutch owned, waiting to come back from the dog walk. I think the coast its full, and few places inland by the farms are still to be found.
 
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Raul said:
Moved on from Tavira, today we got a bit of rain. Checked two campsites in Faro, full, moved to Silves, all tree campsites full. Apparently you are allowed up to 48hrs to park the motorhome where you find. Hence the place last night was quite few stayed overnight, including us. Spoke to couple of Germans, they are in the same situation. As long as you move on 24hr, nobody bothers you. Found a place in the hills, Dutch owned, waiting to come back from the dog walk. I think the coast its full, and few places inland by the farms are still to be found.
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We were in albufeira last week and the camping albufeira seems to have loads of room.

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chaser said:
We were in albufeira last week and the camping albufeira seems to have loads of room.
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Last week it seems was a long time ago chaser , situation changes pretty quick.. i rang few places, they don't take bookings, first come first served. Midd day its best as most check out by 12pm.
 
Raul said:
Last week it seems was a long time ago chaser , situation changes pretty quick.. i rang few places, they don't take bookings, first come first served. Midd day its best as most check out by 12pm.
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A couple we met said they were on the old football pitch opposite, don't know anymore I'm afraid.
 
We've used this place a few times. Walk or taxi into Sao Bras, which is a decent Portuguese working town, with decently priced restaurants and cafés. It's one of our favourite areas in southern Portugal.
I don't think the 48 hours outside an official site in each municipality applies in most of the Algarve or in any national or regional park areas.



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varaizian said:
FYI we are at Ericeira, north of Lisbon on the Atlantic coast and the rain is biblical at the moment. The forecast isn’t promising either.
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Constant drizzle here at Silves, a bit inland, but still windy.

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Have just spent a month traveling through Portugal, used S4S ( paid ... £5 ish ) and always came up trumps, lots of towns and villages with free and very good park-ups. suppose the further south you get the more problematic it may become ..
We have stayed inland but also went to Lisbon which was one of the few campsites we used ...
 
varaizian said:
Similar experience last year and before that. We now tend to stay at Pria de Luz at the western end of the Algarve. It is an Orbitur campsite but not organised into pitches. Our favourite is Camping Milfontes at Vila Nova de Milfontes on the Atlantic coast. We will get there by Friday after Ericeira. We are at Foz do Araiho south of Nazare and it is quite busy already.
Click to expand...
We'll try to be there for Friday to, as Saturday afternoon we have to be in Setubal. Staying there with some friends we haven't seen for ages.
 
Raul said:
We'll try to be there for Friday to, as Saturday afternoon we have to be in Setubal. Staying there with some friends we haven't seen for ages.
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We got to Milfontes Camping, this afternoon. Its a very large site, lots of spaces, lots of residents and a mix of tourers. You get to choose your place, but the best ones are already hogged by the germans and french. Few british vans and Dutch, weather is improving.

Forgot to say, now I understand why you need a 30m lead,
 
Yes, Sunday morning will be the last big rain, then from Monday onwards it will improve nicely. It doesn't matter much for us. Saturday we go to Setubal and stay with some friends for a couple of days.
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Raul said:
We got to Milfontes Camping, this afternoon. Its a very large site, lots of spaces, lots of residents and a mix of tourers. You get to choose your place, but the best ones are already hogged by the germans and french. Few british vans and Dutch, weather is improving.

Forgot to say, now I understand why you need a 30m lead,
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We are still at Ericeira but leaving for Vila Nova in the morning; wind permitting. Yes, the electricity supply boxes are widely spaced.
 
We will be on IC 1 heading north tomorrow, to Setúbal. I wanted to do the estuary ferry, but with this winds, I will pass this time.
 
Lenny HB said:
That's a bit short 50m is more the norm for France/Spain/Portugal 🤣
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You’re right, most have a 30m and the 15m plunged in to that I guess, I just parked up next to the box, like 7-8m, it’s a little slope but I will sleep well with the cab up a bit. I don’t know what’s the fuss about level ground and ramps. Don’t fancy putting the ramps as we are only for the night. 👍
 
Raul said:
We will be on IC 1 heading north tomorrow, to Setúbal. I wanted to do the estuary ferry, but with this winds, I will pass this time.
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We are off south on the A12 over the huge bridge that crosses the Rio Tejo. It is very exposed and might be fun. Passes quite close to Setúbal then the A2 so ships in the night this time. Safe journey.
 
We are in Portugal for about 10 days next month passing through.
Entering at the top end and getting as south as Lisbon then East to Seville.
Generally are there plenty of sites with facilities/amenities scattered about.
We have and would do aire type things overnight but prefer not to.
 
glastry said:
Quit dashing about, you will see nothing!
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We are staying at least a week at Vila Nova. The dog deserves a rest and there is good walking just outside the site. Also some very nice restaurants to visit. No firm plans after that apart from “miss out the Algarve” en-route to Mercia.
 
Raul said:
We will be on IC 1 heading north tomorrow, to Setúbal. I wanted to do the estuary ferry, but with this winds, I will pass this time.
Click to expand...
I didn’t even know about that ferry so looked it up but bottled out in favour of the tried and tested A roads. We are now at Milfontes and it is much busier than I have seen it before at this time. According to our Portuguese friend this weekend joins up with Mardi Gras and Lent etc and becomes a festive period.
 

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